Build Your Own Pyramids, Write Your Own Hieroglyphs - Reflections on REMIX 2025
Words: Marc Boothe
Picture this: you're in a queue for coffee at HERE EAST and you find yourself deep in conversation with a museum curator about AR storytelling while a tech founder behind you chimes in about audience engagement. That's REMIX in a nutshell - a carefully curated collision of worlds. But what happens when you introduce voices that don't fit the standard creative tech narrative? British Underground hand over the mic to Marc Boothe (founder of B3 Media), who joins us in annually support a cohort of emerging artists to attend the REMIX summit and then SXSW in Austin, TX as part of the Future Art and Culture (FAC) Connect programme.
The Future Art and Culture: New Visions, Fresh Voices panel at REMIX 2025
“Over two days, spanning HERE EAST and the Royal Academy of Arts, more than 65 speakers shared their visions of the future. While the programming was impressive, the real energy was happening in the spaces between - in those unplanned moments where genuine connections cut through the usual industry polish.
At B3 Media, we've deliberately chosen to operate at the edges - not because it's comfortable, but because that's where the real innovation happens. While the mainstream tech sector chases the next hype cycle, we're creating spaces where artists can genuinely reimagine what creative technology could be.
From Robin McNicholas of Marshmallow Laser Feast pushing the boundaries of immersive storytelling to the National Gallery's groundbreaking 200 Creators panel - where young digital creators shared powerful stories about overcoming imposter syndrome and finding their creative voice - every session opened up new possibilities. The resonance between these young creators' journeys and our own artists' experiences was striking, highlighting how essential it is to create spaces where emerging voices can genuinely transform the creative technology landscape.
Our panel, "New Visions, Fresh Voices," moderated by Dr. Dan Ford of British Underground, brought together three distinctive voices: Hannah Oliver, a lens-based storyteller whose current project explores healing and wellbeing through immersive experiences; Gary Riley, a graphic designer and motion artist developing new approaches to cultural heritage through augmented reality; and Jay Oliver Yip, a writer-director working at the intersection of film and interactive storytelling. As Dan noted in his introduction, "Artists are often the elephant in the room in these spaces - we're changing that." Through FAC Connect, supported by Arts Council England, we've forged a unique partnership between British Underground and B3 Media's TalentLab XR to create meaningful pathways in creative technology.
The authenticity in that room was electric. Here were three artists sharing their genuine journey into immersive storytelling without the usual tech industry polish. What followed was even more telling - an impromptu breakout session where audience members, from museum developers to sound designers, engaged in raw conversations about what actually needs to change in this sector. As one participant noted, "It's refreshing to actually hear artists share their story, rather than just being talked at."
The transformation was remarkable, but not in the way industry usually measures success. Each artist is bringing their established practice into dialogue with new technologies - creating projects that challenge conventional approaches to immersive storytelling. Their work demonstrates that when artists from different backgrounds engage with creative technology, they don't just use the tools - they reimagine what those tools are for.
The impact was immediate. Each artist made significant connections during REMIX, leading to ongoing conversations about potential collaborations. But more importantly, they showed how different perspectives can open up new possibilities in creative technology.
Looking ahead to SXSW, we're clear-eyed about what we're walking into - a beautiful chaos of commerce, creativity, and hype. But that's precisely where these voices need to be. British Underground's deep experience in showcasing UK talent internationally, combined with B3 Media's commitment to nurturing new voices, creates something more than just another development opportunity.
As Hannah reflected during REMIX, "I was thinking, probably feeling like I'm still kind of developing a language... it was really good for just expanding my vocabulary across different disciplines." This gets to the heart of what happens when artists engage with technology on their own terms - they don't just learn new tools, they create new languages for what's possible.
The future of creative technology won't be shaped by consensus or convention. It will be shaped by those willing to speak these new languages. That's not just an aspiration - it's already happening.”
Words: Marc Boothe - Creative Director, B3 Media
Future Art and Culture (FAC) is a major UK showcasing and networking initiative that focuses on the intersection of art and technology. Hosted annually as part of SXSW in Austin TX, FAC is produced by British Underground and Arts Council England with partnership support from the British Council.
